Boss Sam Allardyce can't afford the depth of squad he'd like so he's compensating by working hard to increase the skill factor while reducing the age profile.

A total of 17 professionals, at various levels, moved out of the Reebok last season to leave Allardyce with a leaner fighting machine as he prepares to kick-off the campaign at Old Trafford on August 16.

The Reebok boss is convinced his squad are moving in the right direction and is happy with the pre-season progress after a hectic week in Malta where, as expected, they won the triangular Floriana Cup tournament.

Allardyce told M.E.N. Sport: "We are in a fortunate position that we've had some quality for a while now and I've expected what we are getting from the players.

Training

"Some of the stuff that is coming out from Jay-Jay and Youri in particular, and Ivan Campo, is great.

"The rest of the lads have upped their levels of ability because of the fact that they are training with these guys on a daily basis.

"It's always the case in a football club that the better the player you train with, the better you become yourself.

"In addition, Stelios Giannakopoulos has shown real quality with some of the touches he has displayed in our friendlies."

The Bolton boss was continuing his desperate search this weekend for a central defender and a striker with French international midfielder Ibrahim Ba having one hand on what would probably be the remains of the Allardyce budget.